Is it the dentist chair or a new school filled with unknowns, or the turn of the doorknob with a doctor coming in the room to share some bad news? Or maybe it’s not knowing what’s right around the corner or a risk you just can’t take, or being in a vulnerable position.

Whatever it is, fear of any of these things can wreak havoc in your life. I know. I have the havoc-filled past to prove it.

Nothing can send you soaring off the insecurity meter like fear of something. Fear can be powerful, yet it should be absolutely powerless in your life. If not recognized and taken captive, fear can manipulate you into a corner, covering you up with a false sense of security.

I mean, if you’re in the corner all covered up, no one can see you and nothing bad can happen, right?

Fear can take your courage like nothing else. It can handicap you into thinking you can’t do something when, in all reality, you have everything you need to perform the task. Fear can fuel your insecurity so that you’re unable to move out of your comfort zone.

When left unchecked, fear can rob you of success. If you don’t take any chances because you’re paralyzed by fear, you’ll narrow your chances of success at anything.

What can keep you from moving forward toward any goal? Fear. It will hold onto your shirttail long enough to wrap its cunning arms around your waist, until you’re immovable. And if you allow it to hold you, soon you’ll be creeping backwards so slowly you won’t notice until you’re so far back you’re sitting comfortably in defeat.

But what conquers fear? I’m glad you asked. It’s simple: Love.

Love can fuel courage like nothing else. It can fill your tank so fast, with so much powerful courage, you won’t believe what you’ve accomplished. What is there to be insecure about when you’re filled with love? Love can swallow up insecurity in one mighty gulp.

Love not only swallows up insecurity, but it can embellish success. Once you’ve been able to work toward a goal, love will make it that much more beautiful-looking and sweeter-tasting. And, with the fuel of love filling us up, we can be propelled forward in every area of life, moving toward a positive ending.

With love comes freedom; freedom to move, to grow, to step out and take a risk. With love in our tanks, there is no risk too great to take.

Where does this love come from? The One who created you. The One who renews your strength. The One whose hope will launch you soaring on wings like eagles. The One who came as a helpless baby in a dirty barn, with two unworthy parents full of fear and shame. The One whose birth we are celebrating.

If a young, common teenage girl can grapple with fear and deliver the Savior, surely there’s hope for us, too!

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Those with questions or comments for Melissa Hart may write to her in care of this publication.